In this episode of The Think Small Podcast, Michael Poropat, Co-Founder and Intellectual Property Attorney at Stockman Poropat, shares how the New York-based boutique law firm has built a specialized practice serving e-commerce entrepreneurs, Amazon sellers, and small business owners navigating the complex world of intellectual property and online marketplace compliance. Michael explains the often-overlooked risks facing online sellers, including account suspensions, intellectual property disputes, trademark conflicts, and platform enforcement actions that can disrupt or even shut down a business overnight. He discusses the firm's client-centered approach, emphasizing education, accessibility, and long-term relationships while helping entrepreneurs proactively protect their brands, products, and revenue streams.

Michael also reflects on his unconventional journey from studying theoretical mathematics and competitive gaming to building a law practice dedicated to supporting creators, innovators, and business builders. He shares insights on the importance of planning early, understanding legal risks before they become crises, and approaching business growth with both strategic foresight and practical protection. The conversation offers valuable perspectives on intellectual property strategy, Amazon seller challenges, entrepreneurship, client service, and the critical role that education and trusted advisors play in helping small businesses build sustainable, protected, and scalable companies.

Connect:

Website: https://stockmanporopat.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljporopat

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Mario Lamar, Partner at Allen Bryson Lamar, shares how the Texas-based law firm has built a reputation for helping businesses navigate commercial litigation, creditors’ rights, construction law, and debt recovery. Mario discusses the firm’s client-first approach, emphasizing transparent communication, flexible fee structures, and innovative contingency-based legal services that allow businesses to pursue collections and litigation without the burden of significant upfront legal costs. He explains how these alternative pricing models have helped clients recover revenue, improve cash flow, and access high-quality legal representation when they need it most.

Mario also reflects on the firm’s growth journey, including lessons learned from customer concentration risk, the strategic shift that led to its successful contingency practice, and the importance of maintaining focus while expanding services. He shares insights into the firm's ambitious plans to double its attorney count and quadruple revenue over the next three years, while continuing to serve construction, oil and gas, and commercial clients across Texas and beyond. The conversation offers valuable perspectives on scaling a professional services business, attracting top talent, building strong client relationships, and creating sustainable growth through innovation and specialization.

Connect:

Website: https://www.allenbrysonlaw.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-lamar-42aa8927

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, we sit down with attorney and entrepreneur Alex Almazan, founding and managing partner of the Almazan Law, for an in-depth conversation about leadership, growth, and the future of the legal industry in the age of AI. Alex shares his journey from working at traditional law firms to building his own practice, discussing the lessons he learned from early partnerships, navigating business downturns, and creating a firm culture centered around adaptability and long-term vision. He also opens up about balancing ambition with personal fulfillment, explaining how his definition of success evolved over the years from chasing material goals to focusing on family, sustainability, and meaningful growth.

The conversation takes a deep dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the practice of law and professional services as a whole. Alex offers a candid look at the challenges of integrating AI into a law firm, from client expectations and operational changes to the importance of maintaining human judgment and accountability. He explains why AI is not about replacing people, but about transforming workflows, increasing efficiency, and allowing professionals to spend more time building real human relationships with clients. Packed with insights on leadership, scaling a business, navigating uncertainty, and preparing for the future, this episode is a valuable listen for business owners, executives, and professionals across every industry.

Connect:

Website: https://www.almazanlaw.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-almazan-8b681115/

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Bill Sincavage, founder and principal attorney of SINC LAW, shares the story behind building a fast-growing real estate and business law practice from the ground up. After spending 15 years at a Boston-area law firm, Bill took a leap of faith and launched his own practice with little more than experience, determination, and a vision for a modern client-focused firm. He reflects on the challenges of starting from zero, building credibility in a competitive legal market, and growing SINC LAW from a shared office space into a multi-state operation serving clients across New England and beyond.

Bill also discusses the realities of entrepreneurship, leadership, and scaling a professional services business while maintaining a hands-on approach with clients. He explains how SINC LAW expanded into estate planning, corporate law, and commercial transactions, and why differentiation, responsiveness, and relationship-building have been central to the firm’s success. Drawing from his own experience overcoming uncertainty and self-doubt, Bill shares practical insights on embracing change, building long-term client trust, and creating sustainable growth in a highly competitive industry.

Connect:

Website: https://sinclaw.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-g-sincavage-99619639/

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Rochelle Walk, Managing Partner of the Tampa office at Aegis Law, shares her remarkable career journey from corporate attorney to entrepreneur and strategic legal advisor. In this episode, she reflects on her early years in mergers and acquisitions, her transition into executive leadership roles at companies like Sherwin-Williams, and how she helped build and restructure major consumer products and manufacturing businesses. Rochelle also discusses launching her own firm in Tampa and becoming an early legal architect in the growing world of Amazon third-party seller acquisitions and e-commerce transactions.

The conversation explores how Aegis Law has evolved into a nationwide transactional practice built around experienced attorneys with deep business expertise. Rochelle offers practical insights on succession planning, leadership, and the future of AI in the legal industry, explaining why technology should enhance — not replace — thoughtful legal strategy. Drawing from decades of experience in corporate law, restructuring, branding, and entrepreneurship, she shares valuable lessons for business owners navigating rapid change, scaling operations, and building long-term success.

Connect:

Website: https://aegislaw.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellewalk/

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Michelle Doran, Chief Operations Officer of Shipman & Goodwin LLP, offers a rare and instructive look at the operational infrastructure that makes a 106-year-old, 165-attorney law firm run, and what it actually takes to absorb another firm, build a brand new office culture, and onboard 32 people while simultaneously still learning the organization yourself. Michelle joined Connecticut's largest law firm in late 2024 and within months was leading the most ambitious expansion in the firm's history, absorbing 17 attorneys and 15 staff from Boston's Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rogers, negotiating office space, integrating technology systems across practice groups, and completing the full integration just weeks before this conversation. With 25 years of law firm operations experience spanning AM Law 100 international firms, regional Connecticut practices, and Research Triangle firms in North Carolina, she arrived with exactly the perspective the moment required.

The conversation digs into what a successful merger integration actually looks like from the inside, from listening to every stakeholder before making a single technology decision, to weekly management check-ins that still continue months later, to the deliberate social engineering of getting practice groups in the same room before anyone talks about clients. Michelle shares how Shipman is building brand credibility in a Boston market where it had zero name recognition, why word of mouth and work product quality remain the most powerful marketing tools in professional services, and how AI is changing the way clients find firms before they ever make a call. She closes with the kind of operational wisdom that only 25 years of doing the hard work can produce: will alone is not enough, talent management is your most important investment, and knowing when to lead and when to ask for help is the most underrated skill a business builder can have.

Connect:

Website: https://www.shipmangoodwin.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelledoran10

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Alex Tuttle, founding and managing partner of Tuttle Yick LLP, shares the winding, self-made path that took him from a small town in Connecticut through law school in Washington, D.C., a master's program in real estate at NYU, and a series of increasingly specialized roles in construction and real estate law before landing in a cubicle in the Daily Planet building next to a stranger he met in a cab, who would eventually become his partner. Built entirely on word of mouth and long-term client relationships rather than advertising or transactional work, Tuttle Yick has grown into a 17-person boutique firm in New York City with three core practice areas: commercial real estate, construction law, and commercial litigation, along with a rapidly growing niche in the complex licensing agreements that govern construction access between neighboring properties in one of the densest cities in the world.

The conversation explores the firm's evolution from a one-man operation where Alex touched everything to a multi-partner boutique navigating the real challenges of scaling systems, billing processes, and team redundancy, challenges that are common to every growing services business but particularly acute in law. Alex speaks candidly about how the pandemic turned out to be manageable because construction never stopped, and about how the firm is now grappling with one of the most honest questions in professional services today: what does AI actually mean for a business built on human expertise, confidentiality, and billable hours? He closes with a refreshingly grounded vision for the future, one focused less on headcount and square footage and more on keeping their eyes open to organic opportunity and rounding out the practice with complementary areas that can weather any economic cycle.

Connect:

Website: https://www.tuttleyick.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adtuttle

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Morgen Bowers, founding attorney and CEO of Four Corners Legacy Law, shares her entrepreneurial journey from practicing corporate and business law on Wall Street to building a purpose-driven estate planning firm in Chatham, New York. Morgen reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her career—from taking over an established law practice to making the bold decision to completely refocus her firm around estate planning after experiencing burnout and recognizing a significant gap in how families are served during some of life’s most difficult transitions. She discusses how her own family’s challenges with estate administration inspired her mission to help clients protect their loved ones, avoid unnecessary court involvement, and preserve family harmony through thoughtful planning.

Morgen also offers an honest look at what it takes to grow a modern law firm, including learning how to market, define ideal client profiles, and build a team and culture centered on education, compassion, and five-star client service. She explains how Four Corners Legacy Law is redefining estate planning by translating complex legal concepts into clear, practical guidance and tailoring services to meet the unique needs of each client—from retirees and multi-generational families to solo agers and business owners planning for succession. Looking ahead, Morgen shares her vision for expanding the firm’s reach and services while staying true to its mission: helping clients leave behind peace of mind and a lasting legacy for the people they care about most.

Connect:

Website: https://4cornerslegacylaw.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgen-bowers-8612289/